Garment pocket



W. E. CUNNINGHAM Nov. 22, 1938 GARMENT POCKET Filed June 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l William E. Cunningham INVENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

w. E. CUNNINGHAM Nov. 22, 1938.

GARMENT POCKET Filed June 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 William E.Cunm'n am 912 4 INVENTOR. W & ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in pockets for garments, and more particularly to safety pockets which are constructed to prevent unauthorized access thereto or the accidental 5 removal of the contents of such safety pockets.

Various attempts have been made heretofore to provide for the concealment of valuables and prevent the unauthorized or accidental removal thereof from pockets, but such attempts and proposed constructions have been cumbersome to make and use and expensive to apply in the usual garments. Furthermore, such iproposed safety pockets which might have provided for concealment of articles contained therein have i been difiicult to use, because no adequate and satisfactory means has been suggested in connection therewith for gaining access thereto, such pockets usually being provided with fastenings of types that are objectionable in use.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction and manner of closing a pocket of this character to prevent unauthorized access thereto without its being unduly bulky or obtrusive, occupying very little space within the ordinary pocket and being readily accessible when access thereto is desired.

-My improved pocket serves not only as a safety or secret pocket for containing valuables, but also it is so constructed as to prevent the accidental loss of articles therefrom, even when the garment is inverted and tossed about, inasmuch as the closure therefor will effectively protect the opening of the inner compartment and prevent the accidental displacement of articles therefrom, as well as forming a safety trap which protects the articles in the inner pocket against unauthorized removal.

By providing flaps on the sides of the inner pocket, these may be folded together to form a safety trap for articles inserted into the inner pocket either through an opening provided in the edge thereof between the flaps, or a slitted opening under the folded flaps which would be enclosed and protected thereby.

In carrying out the foregoing object, the invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment together with modifications thereof, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of trousers, showing the improved pocket constructed therein, the flap of the inner pocket being open;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blanks for constructing the double pocket, partly stitched together, parts being broken away for clearness;

'Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the double pocket, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the entrance fiap turned in within the main pocket;

Fig. is a vertical sectional View through the trousers on the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the entrance into the pockets spread apart for access thereto; 7

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view similar to Fig. 2, but with the entrance flap folded in its normal position;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of a coat pocket showing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view therethrough on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a similar view with the entrance flap turned outward;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of trousers showing a modified form of pocket embodying this inven tion, parts being broken away for clearness;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the blanks for forming the modified pocket;

Fig. 12 is a transverse section on the line l2--l2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a similar view with the entrance flap turned in;

Fig. 14 is a partial plan view of the blank similar to Fig. 11, but having the flap turned inward;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of a coat pocket showing the modified form of pocket applied thereto;

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view therethrough on the line I6--l6 of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 17 is a similar view showing the flap turned outward.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, the improved pocket is shown as applied to a pair of trousers, a portion of which is designated by the numeral I, although it will be evident that the invention may be applied to other forms of garments in which pockets are desired, such as overalls, one-piece suits, jumps, and especially coats or other side pockets which it is desired to protect against unauthorized entrance and against the accidental displacement of objects therefrom. The trousers l are shown as provided with the usual side opening 2, for access to a side pocket.

In constructing this improved double duty pocket, a strip of material designated by the numeral 3 in Figs. 2 and 6, is cut out of the proper shape such as would normally form the usual side pocket. This strip of material 3 has inserted thereinto a single ply strip 4, which is stitched thereto by means of a seam 5 adjacent the point of folding of the strip 3, the outer edges of the strip 4 being separately stitched to the strip 3 at 6, if desired, or this separate stitching may be omitted and the parts being secured together by the stitching that fastens the edges of the main pocket.

The strip 3 is folded upon itself along its medial line, and its edges secured together to enclose the between which thus provides a main pocket designated I, and a concealed or secondary pocket compartment 8 separated from each other by the partition 4. The main pocket I is the one to which access is readily had through the side opening 2, shown in Fig. 1, but the inner compartment 8 is normally concealed and protected against unauthorized access thereto or accidental displacement of articles therefrom as Will be described.

The complete pocket is adapted to be secured to the garment I by stitching 9, along the upper edge thereof, and if desired the back edge of the pocket may be stitched as at III to the inner seam of the garment or adjacent the opening 2 to hold the pocket in place and to provide for ready access thereto.

As shown in Fig. 2, the division strip 4 is of greater area than the normal area of the pocket, having a lip II, capable of projecting outwardly through the side opening 2 in the garment, as shown in Fig. 3, which lip is turned back upon itself at I2. At the inner side of the opening 2 is a facing I3, preferably made of one-piece of material and usually of the same material as the adjacent portion of the garment being attached to the outer edge thereof by the stitching I0, when the pocket is secured in place, and the facing I3 is also secured to the innermost ply of the strip 3 by a line of stitching I4, extending substantially parallel with the opening 2 in the trousers. Normally extending inwardly from the stitching I4 is a lip I5 that lies parallel with and is superimposed upon the lip II, the lip I5 also being turned back upon itself at I6. The lip II has a line of stitching I I which normally tends to hold it turned in, as shown in Fig. 4, with the lip I5 overlapping the same and jointly forming a flap within the main pocket.

The lips II and I5 are secured together along their upper and lower edges at I8, but are open at their free edges as designated by the numeral I9 in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, to form an entrance into the inner compartment 8, when this flap is turned out to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. When so positioned, the lips I I and I5 may be spread apart as illustrated particularly in Fig. 5, to provide ready access to said inner compartment, but when not desired, the lips are folded in within the main pocket 1, to the position shown in Fig. 4, Where they lie in fiat overlying position and not only prevent unauthorized access to the secret compartment 8, but also prevent accidental displacement of articles therefrom by effectively closing the entrance opening to said compartment and forming a trap for articles contained therein.

These lips lie fiat in non-obtrusive relation which is greatly exaggerated in the drawings for the sake of clearness and provide an eifective entrance to the inner compartment that may be readily accessible and yet prevent undesirable removal of articles therefrom.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show a similar pocket applied as a side pocket on a coat or like garment, which is designated generally by the numeral 2|. The usual side pocket is shown at 22, being stitched around the sides thereof, as ordinarily provided in garments of this character, while an intermediate strip 24 is secured between the pocket 22 and the adjacent side of the garment 2I, providing a concealed pocket 28, to which access may be had through an opening 29 in the extreme edge of a two-lip flap 25. The flap 25 is adapted to be folded into the main pocket 22 in the manner described above and as shown in Fig. 8, or to be turned outward to the position shown in Fig. 9 for spreading the sides of the flap to gain access to the interior of the secondary compartment 28. Otherwise this closure for the secondary pocket is formed similar to that described above.

Figs. 10 to 14 show a modified form of side pocket applied to a pair of trousers in which the main pocket is constructed substantially as described above and is designated generally by the numeral 33, being separated into the main pocket 3'! and an auxiliary compartment 38 by a partition 34. In this instance, the lips 3| and 35 forming the fiap are stitched directly together along their edges, as shown at 40 in Fig. 11 to close said edges and provide a unitary flap.

Immediately beneath the flap and within the partition 34 is a slit 39 extending parallel with the flap through which access may be had into the auxiliary compartment 38 upon turning the flap outward as shown in Fig. 12. However, when the flap is turned inward, as shown in Fig. 13, it effectively closes said auxiliary compartment and the entrance slit thereof against unauthorized or accidental removal of articles or valuables therefrom.

This modified form of pocket is shown applied as a side pocket on a coat or similar garment in Figs. 15 to 17, in which the main pocket 43 is divided by a partition 44, to provide an auxiliary compartment 48 in a side thereof which partition has a slit 49 therein at the base of a fiap 45 for gaining access to the concealed compartment 48, when the flap 45 is turned outward to the position shown in Fig. 17, but when turned inward to its position shown in Fig. 16, the flap effectively overlaps and closes the slit 49, preventing unauthorized access to or accidental displacement of articles from the auxiliary compartment 48.

In this modified form of pocket, as shown in Figs. 10 to 17, a slit entrance is provided into the secondary compartment directly behind or beneath the flap. The slit opening is easily accessible through which a single entrance is provided into the secondary compartment for the placing of articles therein for safe keeping and against unauthorized and accidental removal thereof. The closure flap when shut in its folded position acts as a trap which protects the articles against removal and prevents an unauthorized access to the secondary compartment.

By placing the slit in the partition at the base of the flap immediately below the hinge scam, the fingers automatically enter the opening upon raising the flap, whereas, if the slitted opening were in flap adjacent its outer edge, it would be necessary to feel for the opening upon raising the flap, which would make access thereto diflicult.

The double pocket with a secondary compartment not only conceals valuables from the ordinary loss or removal thereof, but also entrance into the secondary compartment cannot be gained without attracting attention of the wearer and yet when the pocket is assembled, it has the outward appearance of an ordinary pocket withut undue bulkiness. When the flap is closed and folded back, this forms an effective safety trap which automatically prevents the removal of articles of value from the secondary compartment.

I claim:

1. A pocket comprising side walls secured together with an elongated pocket opening therebetween and having a partition therebetween dividing said pocket into separate compartments, said partition having an integral lip extending parallel with said pocket opening and projecting outwardly therethrough from said compartments, a facing strip connected with the side of' one compartment and having a lip extending parallel with the first-mentioned lip, said lips having the outer edges thereof disconnected and separable to provide a passageway into said compartment, and rows of stitches extending along the inner edges of said lips parallel with the pocket opening and through turned back portions thereof to facilitate hinging action thereof, said lips being jointly foldable into the other compartment to close said passageway.

2. A pocket comprising side walls having a partition therebetween dividing said pocket into separate compartments, said partition having an integral lip projecting outwardly from said compartments, said lip being turned back upon the partition to form a fold line with stitching through the adjacent edges of said partition and lip approximately parallel with the fold line and in close proximity thereto, a facing strip connected with the side of one compartment and,

having a lip extending parallel with the firstmentioned lip, said lips having the outer edges thereof attached directly together and foldable upon the partition to form a flap, said partition having a transverse slit therein inwardly of its integral lip and in close proximity to the line of fold of said flap approximately parallel with said line and covered by said flap in folded position.

3. A pocket comprising side Walls secured directly together throughout the major portion of the edges thereof and with an elongated pocket opening therebetween, a partition between said side walls and extending approximately throughout the area of said side walls, said partition having a lip attached thereto and turned back upon said partition in superposed relation to form a fold line within the opening and extending 'parallel therewith for folding through said pocket opening, stitching securing said lip to the partition through the adjacent edges thereof approximately parallel with the fold line, a facing stripattached to one side wall and having a lip overlying the first-mentioned lip and attached thereto along opposite ends thereof, said lips being jointly foldable along said fold line through the pocket opening.

4. A pocket for a garment comprising inner and outer side walls attached directly together throughout the major portion of the edges there" of with an elongated pocket opening therebetween, a partition between said side walls and extending approximately throughout the area thereof dividing the pocket into inner and outer compartments, said partition having an integral lip attached thereto and turned back upon the partition with a line of stitching through the adjacent edges of the partition and lip approximately parallel with the pocket opening forming a fold line for the lip within the pocket opening and extending parallel therewith in position to fold therethrough into the outer compartment, a facing strip attached to the inner side wall and having a lip overlying the first-mentioned lip and attached thereto along opposite ends thereof forming a flap, said lips being jointly foldable along said fold line through the pocket opening into the outer compartment, said inner compartment having a passageway thereto closed by the folding of said flap.

5. A garment having an elongated pocket opening therein, and a pocket within said garment and comprising inner and outer side walls attached directly together throughout the major portion of the edges thereof and having i the edges thereof attached to said pocket opening, a partition between said side walls and extending approximately throughout the area thereof dividing the pocket into inner and outer compartments, said partition having an integral lip attached thereto along a fold line within the pocket opening and extending parallel therewith in position to fold therethrough into the outer compartment, a facing strip attached to the inner side wall and having a lip overlying the first-mentioned lip and attached thereto along opposite ends only thereof forming a flap, said lips being jointly foldable along said fold line through the pocket opening into the outer compartment, said lips being unattached and separable along the outer edges thereof forming a passageway through the flap in the plane thereof to the inner compartment which passageway is closed by the folding of the flap into the outer compartment.

6. A pocket for a garment comprising inner and outer side walls attached directly together throughout the major portion of the edges thereof with an elongated pocket opening therebetween, a partition between said side walls and extending approximately throughout the area thereof dividing the pocket into inner and outer compartments, said partition having an integral lip attached thereto along a fold line within the pocket opening and extending parallel therewith in position to fold therethrough into the outer compartment, said lip being turned back upon the partition with a line of stitching through the adjacent edges thereof approximately parallel with the pocket opening and in close proximity to the fold line to facilitate folding of the lip thereon, a facing strip attached to the inner side wall and having a lip overlying the firstmentioned lip and attached thereto along opposite ends thereof forming a flap, said lips being jointly foldable along said fold line through the pocket opening into the outer compartment, said lips having the outer edges thereof attached directly together, the partition having a slit therethrough inwardly of the fold line of the flap and covered by said flap in folded position.

7. A pocket comprising side walls secured directly together throughout the major portion of the edges thereof and with an elongated pocket opening therebetween, a partition between said side walls and extending approximately throughout the major portion of the area of said side walls, said partition having a lip attached thereto and turned back upon said partition in superposed relation to form a fold line within the opening and extending approximately parallel therewith for folding through said pocket opening, and stitching securing said lip to the partition through the adjacent edges thereof approximately parallel with the fold line for folding of said lip along said fold line.

WILLIAM E. CUNNINGHAM. 

